Local pastor to attend prestigious Oxford forum

While growing up in a small West Virginia town, Ancient City Baptist Church pastor David Rice never guessed that one day he would visit Oxford University.

This month, he is traveling to this educational center, not simply as a tourist, but as one of 40 international leaders selected to attend the Oxford Round Table July 22-27.

Originally created in 1989 as a forum for educational issues, the Round Table has evolved into a discussion of important global topics that involves participants from a variety of disciplines selected through several screening processes.

Upon learning of his selection, Rice was amazed that he had passed the necessary requirements of recommendation and achievement to be included.

"There's a part of me that's still trying to figure it out," he explained. "I'm humbled by the opportunity. I see it as a tremendous responsibility."

He did concede, however, that his work as a pastor particularly qualified him to discuss the chosen subject for this year's Round Table, The Separation of Church and State: The Decline and Fall?

Rice will be among several clergymen as well as college professors, judges, and other representatives from all over the world who will discussion the chosen topic, which Rice argued is "really an international issue."

Although he agrees that the separation of church and state is a major issue in the U.S., he explained, "Look at the Muslim world and things that are taking place in the former Soviet Union countries."

The program will primarily focus on the historical perspective of the issue, which will be presented by ten of the leaders. "I'm looking forward to the presentation on the work of James Madison and Thomas Jefferson," said Rice.

Each presentation will be given in the morning, and in the afternoon forums of discussion will proceed, allowing the chosen participants to debate the ideas introduced at the day's opening.

Rice elected not to be one of these presenters, but instead will be facilitating Tuesday's discussion, working as a sort of referee to ensure the day's debates are fair.

"I'm looking forward to a healthy exchange of ideas," Rice said of his role. "And I'm going not only to contribute, but to learn at the same time."

While his main goal is to "stretch" himself intellectually by listening to the thoughts of his fellow participants, Rice does have strong views on the chosen topic that he plans to express."There was tremendous wisdom in our founding fathers when they established separation of church and state," Rice stressed. "When you let religion be the state you end up with the potential for it to become religiously zealot."

Rice explained not only that the state should refrain from controlling religion, but also that the church should not dictate the government. "The pulpit is demeaned when it is used as a political platform," he argued.

Through his eight years in St. Augustine, however, he has learned that the two can peacefully coexist without any need for one to dominate the other.

"Leadership here has done a good job of involving the faith community," praised Rice. "The separation of church and state does not mean faith cannot be actively involved in the processes of community."

Consequently, he believes that St. Augustine and its uniquely balanced church and state relationship will allow him to be a positive force at the forum.

When he returns, he plans to give back to the community that prepared him so well for his trip to Oxford by sharing and applying everything he learns from the great minds of the Round Table.